Sri Lankan Blast KIlls Minister

Tamil Tigers believed behind attack at marathon
By Kate Rockwood,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 6, 2008 9:13 AM CDT
Sri Lankan Blast KIlls Minister
Soldiers stand guard as police officers inspect the site of explosion in Weliweriya, Sri Lanka, Sunday, March 6, 2008. A suicide bomber attacked the opening ceremony of a marathon Sunday.   (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)

The Sri Lankan highway minister and at least 11 others gathered for a marathon were killed today by a suicide bomber believed to be a member of the Tamil Tigers rebel group. More than 100 people were also wounded in the blast near the capital, reports Reuters. The minister is the second killed since January, when the government ended a 2002 ceasefire.

"The assassination of such a committed democrat once again shows the total contempt of the (Tigers) to the democratic process," said Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa, vowing that "this dastardly act will not weaken our resolve to eradicate terrorism from our midst.” Last week, the Sri Lankan military attacked the Tigers' northern strongholds, killing at least 100 rebel fighters. (More Sri Lanka stories.)

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